Overview & Reviews

The Ford Escort is totally redesigned this year with improvements across the board. The most noticeable improvements are in the powertrain and ride quality. New sheet metal gives the Escort a rounder, more aerodynamic appearance as well. The GT hatchback version is dropped.

• Attractive new design. Good cargo space. Zippy new engine makes driving this car fun.

• Not much rear seat room.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 93.00

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  Ford escort 97 station - 1997 Ford Escort
  By micamans - September 20 - 2:45 am

  I bought this car a year ago second hand. I needed a cheap car to get me to work and just prayed it would not die on me even though it had 220000 Ks on it. It now has 310000 It still gets me from A to B fine. Ive had the problem that it sometimes refuses to go into first gear. This problem has something to do with the sync rings in the gearbox but the problem just seems to sort its self out. Other then that I have not r had any problems with the car. It is quite sluggish compared with all of these modern cars here in Europe and the suspention is like spagetti in the corners, but hey it is no racing car.

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  Excellent temporary car, wouldnt recommend long term - 1997 Ford Escort
  By brendan12090 - June 26 - 4:31 pm

  Have had this escort for a little less than a year and it has just been terrible. Everything has had to of been replaced including, all four struts, both lower ball joints, full exhaust, and little repairs along the way, I should have just bought a new car! Although it has many problems, it refuses to die and for that I gave it a 4 in reliability. Moving on to a Toyota because of their reliability. But for cheap temporary transportation its a good car and gets relatively good gas mileage. Cheap to repair but nothing is extremely cheap. Engines arent too bad and the transmissions arent terrible either, but the body style is absolutely ugly and it rusts so quickly!

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  Great at first but awful now - 1997 Ford Escort
  By brendan12090 - June 20 - 11:53 pm

  I have had 3 escort models in my life span, so far the 96 wagon was the better of them all, I have a 98 escort wagon now and Ive had to replace everything, except for the engine. I love the gas mileage but the cost of repairs is starting to go through the roof and about to just junk it because the unibody is rotted and will not pass inspection and to think its 2013 and it barely has 95000 miles on it, amazing, anyways if you want reliability go foreign stay away from fords

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  what do you expect? - 1997 Ford Escort
  By joe - January 28 - 1:47 am

  lets be real its a escort. If I had more money Id drive a benz but im a broke loser who flips burgers. If you talk great things about your escort your a loser. It does the job go to work and maybe you can buy a nicer car down the road.

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  Never liked it, but it keeps going - 1997 Ford Escort
  By never liked it - March 27 - 8:44 am

  Cup holders are too shallow, things always spill. I have had a number of O2 sensors and other such things replaced. Had to take it back to the dealer a week after purchase...entire top end replaced under warrant at about 34,000. It now has 150,00 on it. It leaks/burns oil, the radiator leaks, the AC compressor self destructed, the trannyis starting to slip, Ive had two exhausts put on it, Ive done a couple brake jobs. Like all these cars the rear springs are broken and the front end wears. Also, I have always found this car to be incredibly underbraked. I could, from day one, slam the brake pedal with both feet and not lock up the brakes.

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  Reliable, Reliable, Reliable - 1997 Ford Escort
  By Christopher - April 4 - 9:13 pm

  This has been the most dependable car I have ever owned. It is not a cool ride, but when it is as inexpensive as it is, and never costs you a dime once you purchase it, I feel pretty cool driving it.

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  My kids hate this car! Mom loves it! - 1997 Ford Escort
  By LKB - October 20 - 12:28 pm

  This car has been very very loyal to me. Great gas mileage and very few repairs. I have driven it for 6.5 years and it has proven to be very reliable. Its not a pretty car my kids dont want to be seen in it. I told them theyll be begging my to drive it when they get their licenses I would have done backflips at 16 if this was my car. But I wont review the cars I had to drive with the rusted floorboards. It is great for a small person with 1 or 2 kids nothing fancy and you do get plenty of road noise -- so turn up the radio!

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  Not bad for 175k miles.. - 1997 Ford Escort
  By gLaze - March 18 - 2:00 am

  I picked the car up for 700$ with 175k miles on it. To hold me over till i got a new car. Ive driven it every day for about a year, about 50+ miles a day. And after 175k the only things wrong w/ it were wheel bearings needed replacing, and the rear spring was broken. And the tranny is acting up now.. but not TOO bad. All in all a reliable car.

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  Great Short Term - Careful long term - 1997 Ford Escort
  By MightyMet - October 14 - 2:00 am

  This car didt give me one problem at all and I never had one item ever break on it and it was never in the shop for anything other then routine maintenance until just recently and it was a big one. The car has 121,000miles and the #1 Piston is hitting the valve and the only solution is total engine replacement. Car was VERY reliable until it hit the 120,000 mark. If the miles are low and the price is right you should go for it as I really enjoyed owning it but once you hit that 100,000 you should be thinking about selling it or trading it in.